Stock loader



W. B. GHARST ET AL STOCK LOADER Fi'led Jan.'4. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L ML www4/Leos Gd. m4, 1924.

-W. B. GHARST ET AL.

STOCK LOADER v 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Jan. 4, 1923 www @M6 /WW @m a w u W f7 WG 0 J j @Wamego Patented Oct. 2l, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. GHARST AND GUSTAV KARL, OF MASON CITY, IOWA.

s'rocx LOADER.

Application filed January 4, 1923.

To all w hom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, WILLIAM B. GHARST and GUs'rAv KARL, citizens of the United States, residing at Mason City, in the county of Cerro Gordo and State of Iowa, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Stock Loaders; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in stock loaders of the gang-way type provided with an inclined floor and a pair of parallel side walls, such devices being used when loading stock into wagons, trucks or cars, and when unloading.

It is one object of the invention to pro'- vide an extremely simple and inexpensive device of the character set forth which although being rigid for use, may be readily folded into substantially flat form to be carried from one place to another or when it is desired to store the device for future use.

In carrying out the above end, a further object is to provide a novel arrangement o-f parts for rigidly reinforcing the inclined ioor and for pivotally connecting the vertical sides with said lioor in such a manner that they may be folded inwardly into overlapped relation.

A still further aim is to provide unique means for holding one of the side walls rigidly in upright position and additional means extending from said one wall to the other wall to rigidly support the latter.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loader constructed in accordance with our invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view as indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sections on lines 4 4 and 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device folded for storage.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View on line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings above brieiiy described, the numeral 1 designates an inclined floor Serial No. 610,585.

which is preferably formed of a plurality of planks having transverse cleats 2 secured to their upper sides. Transverse metal bars 3 are secured to the lower side of the licor 1 and have their end portions bent upwardly as indicated at l toform rigid upstanding arms, the arms at'one edge of the floor being of greater length than those at the opposite edge. In forming 1the arms 4, the end portions of the bars are bent to form eyes 5 and from these eyes, the metal eX- tends downwardly at 6 and is bent inwardly at 7 beneath the horizontal portions of the bars. Bolts, rivets or the like 8 are employed to secure the bars 3 to the floor l and the endmost of these fasteners may well pass also through the inwardly bent ends 7.y Longitudinal slats 9 are preferably secured to the upturned bar ends to form parts of the side walls which rise from the floor. The major portions of these walls however are formed of spaced slats 10 and metal bars 1l secured to said slats, the lower ends of said bars 11 being bent to form eyes 12 which are horizontally alined with the eyes 5. Suitable pivot rods 13 are passed through the alined eyes 5 and 12 at each edge of the floor 1 and it will thus be seen that pivotal connections are established between the ,side walls of the floor, permitting these side walls to fold inwardly into overlapping relation with each other, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. By having the upturned ends of the bars 3 0f dierent lengths at opposite edges of the floor 1, the side walls will more compactly fold than otherwise.

For the purpose of holding one of the Side walls rigidly in upright position, we provide a plurality of vertically alined eye-s 14 and a removable bolt l5 passing therethrough, said bolt extending across the hinge line as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. To support the other side wall in vertical position, we provide suitable means, such as transverse spacing rods 16 pivoted to the one wall and engageable with eyes 17 on the other wall, these rods being positioned at a suitable elevation to permit the stock to pass beneath them.

To properly support the upper end of the floor l, we employ suitable pivoted legs 18 connected by appropriate braces 19, bracing rods 20 being provided to hold the legs in operative position. These rods are preferably pivoted to the edges of the floor 1 and are provided with hook and eye connections 2l by Ar'n'eans o'fwhi'ch they are operatively attached to the legs.

By employing theconstruction shown or a substantial equivalent thereof, it will he seen that a simple and inexpensive device is provided for loading and unloading stock expeditiously. When Ythe deyice is not in use, release of the rods 16 and 2() andA removal ofk the bolt l5 will permit they entire device to be compactly folded, in which condition it may be easily carried fromv one place to another and may loe stored in littlespace.

As excellent results may be obtained from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

We claim: f

, A knock-down stock loader comprising a floor, transverse metal bars secured to the underside of said lo'or and having their ends directed upwardly and bent to form eyes, the extremities of the barsnbeing bent downwardly against said upwardly directed portions and then bent inwardly under 'and secured to the under-faces of the hori- Zout-al` portions of `the hars, a. pair of inwardly` foldahle side walls having met-al hars whose lower ends-are formed with eyes alined with those aforesaid, removableV pivot-rods passing through the alinedjreyes, vertically alined eyes o-n the floor and on one of said side walls, a removable bolt receivedV in said eyes to hold said one wall in upright position, Vand releasable means extending from said one side wall to the other wall for holding the latter upright.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto Y affixed oursignatures.

wiLLiAMVB. eHARsT. eUsTAv KARL. 

